July 2026 Reading an article about the historic wildfires burning in France and Spain this last week of July, I thought this excerpt from an interview with a Bordeaux vintner perfectly summed up the state of the global wine (and grape) industry: “ ‘For the wine industry, it’s one thing on top of the other,” […]
Waste Not
A Five-Alarm Fire
See our official comments, posted to the Federal Register on July 11, 2026 June 2026 There’s a five-alarm fire smoldering in the U.S. Federal Register. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) seeks to overhaul the rules whereby federal grants for scientific research are given. Among the changes, the proposed rule requires a […]
Where the Magic Happens
May 2026 For me, May began in the vineyards of the Walla Walla Valley, which straddles the Washington-Oregon state line and the winding Walla Walla River. With sweeping blue skies, typical gusty winds and views for days, the picture-perfect AVA was a beautiful backdrop for the U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit. The event kicked off with […]
NGRA Uniquely Supports Industry Extension & Outreach at Biennial Leadership Conference
Convening Extension Leaders to Advance Research, Innovation and Industry Resilience SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 19, 2026) – The National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA) convened viticulture and enology extension and outreach professionals from across the country at the 2026 National Viticulture and Enology Extension Leadership Community (NVEELC) Conference, April 20-22 in San Antonio, Texas. It was the […]
National Treasure
April 2026 It was Tuesday morning, April 21, and the 36 extension and outreach professionals participating in the National Viticulture & Enology Extension Leadership Conference (NVEELC) were boarding the bus for an industry tour of vineyards and wineries in the Texas Hill Country. As we pulled away from our hotel on the San Antonio Riverwalk, […]
Turn the Page
Published in the March 2026 issue of the NGRA newsletter As you’re well aware, 2025 was a tough year. For reasons I don’t need to recount, last year the American grape and wine industry faced its stiffest and most varied headwinds perhaps in history. Businesses sold or closed, downsized, consolidated and searched for new efficiencies. […]
National Grape Research Alliance Launches 2026 National Research and Funding Strategy
NGRA’s new sustained development model, three major research initiatives, and robust extension leadership strengthen U.S. grape production nationwide. SACRAMENTO, Calif.—March 30, 2026—At its First-of-Year Board Meeting on January 26, 2026, the National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA) launched its 2026 strategic roadmap, expanding its funding model and advancing new research initiatives to strengthen U.S. grape production […]
Leaders Show Up
Leadership isn’t always easy. Like at most nonprofit organizations, leaders within the National Grape Research Alliance who serve as Officers and Directors of our Board take on important responsibilities. They help to ensure the organization operates smoothly, has clear strategic direction and successfully delivers on our grape research mission. And they set aside their individual […]
Science Can Save Us.
The last week of January typically means the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, as it did this year. Walking through the massive Exhibit Hall, it’s easy to see the results of research and development in the mammoth equipment and sophisticated services on display. But that’s probably not the lens most folks are looking […]
Honoring Mom
When I was a kid, wishing for Friday or summer break or the Christmas holidays, my mom would warn me not to “wish my life away.” As I get older, I see the value in appreciating what’s so before rushing on to what’s next. So, rather than greet the end of this challenging year with […]